Pneumatic cleaner for axminster loom nose boards



Dec. 23, 1952 N. FLETCHER 2,622,526

PNEUMATIG CLEANER FOR AXMINSTER LOOM NOSE BOARDS Filed March 16, 1951 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 NORMAN FLETCHER ATTORNEY.

lNVENT PNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR AXMINSTER LOOM NOSE BOARDS.

Filed March 16, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INV ENTOR NORMAN FLETCHER gli@ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FNEUMATIC CLEANER FOR AXMINSTER LOOM NOSE BOARDS Application March 1G, 1951, Serial No. 216,025

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms of the type employing a toothed nose board and it is the general object of the invention to provide pneumatic means for cleaning lint from the slots between the teeth of the nose board.

Certain types of AXminster looms employ a nose board formed with rearwardly projecting tuft yarn engaging teeth separated by slots into which the dents of the reed move in order to beat into the fabric a newly formed row of tufts. It is common in some of these looms to employ spacer plates which are normally held stationary in a forward position but are projected rearwardly into alignment with the ree-d dents to provide guide aisles which keep the tuft yarns in correct position when they are beaten up by the lay. These spacer plates will ordinarily move in the slots in the nose board every third beat of the loom if the fabric being woven is three shot.

During the weaving operation bers from the yarns forming the fabric are likely to be broken oif and collect as lint in the slots between the nose board teeth. If this lint is not removed it eventually packs in hard enough to interfere not only with the beat-up motion of the reed dents but also with the proper operation of the spacer plates. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic cleaning system for the nose board comprising essentially a tubular member disposed preferably under the nose board and having upwardly facing air outlets from which jets of air issue to be directed into the slots to clear them of lint.

It is a further object of the invention to sub- `iect the nose board to a pneumatic cleaning operation during the time that the spacer plates are moving in the slots, since such movement has a tendency to dislodge the lint and enable it more readily to be carried away by a draft of an'.

It is a further object of the invention to provide pneumatic cleaning means which is mounted so that it can move backwardly and forwardly to subject the greater part of the length of the slots between the teeth to an air cleaning operation. In this feature of the invention the aforesaid tubular member is mounted for back and forth motion under the nose board and compressed air is introduced into the tubular member during motion of the latter.

it is a still further object of the invention to utilize the cam of the loom which rocks the spacer plates to control an air valve timed to connect the pneumatic cleaning means with a source of compressed air while the aforesaid tubular member is in motion under the nose board.

A still further object of the invention relates to a combined spacer plate and pneumatic cleaner unit.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the forward part of an Axminster loom having the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is van enlarged vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. l,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sections on lines 3 3, l-l and '5-5, respectively, of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a detailed plan view of part of the cleaning system,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the spacer plates adapted to receive the penumatic cleaning means, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, of the combined spacer plate and pneumatic cleaner unit.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame l supports a main shaft 2 which in the present instance rotates in a three-pick cycle. The loom is provided with a lay L including a lay shaft 3 connected by mechanism not shown to the shaft 2 to rock the lay forwardly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 after each weft inserting operation of the weft needle N. The lay carries a reed 4 having reed dents 5 between which extend the warp threads of the top and bottom sheds 6 and 1, respectively.

Secured to the loom frame is a breast beam l@ to the upper part of which is secured a nose board ll having a body l2 at the forward or left hand part thereof as viewed in Fig. 1 and having vertical parallel tuft yarn engaging teeth I3 integral with the body extending rearwardly` from the latter and separated by slots I4. The under side of the teeth may be curved upwardly as at i5 and the front part of each slot may be inclined downwardly and forwardly as at I5. Experience shows that during operation of the loom lint composed primarily of broken fibers of the yarns used to produce the fabric F accumulates in the slots, as indicated for instance at l'l, Fig. 3.

Rotating with shaft 2 is a cam 2t which rocks a lever 2l rearwardly or tc the right as viewed in Fig. 1 every third beat of the loom. The upper end of this lever is connected by a rod 22 to a lever 23 secured to a relatively small cross shaft 24 journaled in fixed bearings one of which is shown at 25. A forwardly extending arm 26 of lever 23 is parallel to a similar arm 21 on the far side of the shaft 24. The arms 26 and 21 are connected to upright rods 28 and 29, respectively, the upper ends of which are operatively connected to rocking levers 39 and 3|, respectively, journaled about an axis 32 on the lay L.

The levers 30 and 3| have secured thereto an angle bar 35 extending across the loom and supporting a bar 36 secured to the angle member 35 in any approved manner. The angle bar has front and back clamp members 38 and 39, respectively, which clamp the lower ends of a series of spacer plates designated generally at 46. The lower ends of these spacer plates lit into upwardly opening slots 4| in the bar 36 and the latter together with clamps 38 and 39 hold the plates fixed with respect to the bar and in register with the dents of the reed 4. 'I'he cam 20, lever 2|, and connections to bar 36 may be considered as loom operated or controlled mechanism for moving the spacer plates.

In the operation of the matter thus far described the spacer plates will be in the forward position shown for instance in Figs. 3 and 4 throughout the greater part of a three-pick cycle. On a tuft forming beat of the loom, however, cam 20 rocks lever 2| and in doing so causes the spacer plates to swing around the axis 32 to a rearward position such as is shown in Fig. 1. During this rearward motion the spacer plates move in the slots i4 and if the latter contains any lint within reach of the spacer plates it will be disturbed by them. This rearward motion of the spacer plates occurs while the reed is in its rearmost position as shown in Fig. l. As the loom continues to run the reed beats up and when the rear edges of the spacer plates are close to the advancing edges of the reed dents the cam permits spring 45 to return the spacer plates to their normal forward position.

The matter thus far described may be substantially the same as that set forth for instance in prior Patents Nos. 1,958,129 and 2,057,394.

The present invention provides a pneumatic means or cleaner shown at C in Fig. 2 for directing jets of air into the slots I4 for the purpose of clearing them of accumulated lint. The pneumatic means includes a tubular member 59 transverse of the teeth I3 under the nose board and having an air chamber 5| therein. The spacer plates as shown in Fig. 7 are formed with an opening 52 which preferably has a circumference of more than 180. The tubular member 5|] extends through these openings 52 and can be secured to the spacer plates in any approved manner and is supported by and moves with the spacer plates. Member 50 has a part 58 which extends beyond the outline of the spacer plates, see Fig. 4, and has drilled therethrough a series of air outlets or holes 60 which communicate with the air chamber 5| and are in register with the spacer plates and with the slots I4.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2 means are provided for fixing each end of the tubular member to the bar 36 and also for introducing air into chamber 5 only the one located at the right hand side, Fig. 2, will be set forth in detail. A fitting 62 is screw threaded as at 63 into the adjacent end of the tubular member 50. A clamp 65 extends around the tube, see Fig. 5, and has a foot or base 66? These means are the same and 4 held as at 61 to the bar 36. When the clamp is tightened as by screw 68 the tubular member 50 and the tting 62 will be joined tightly and held in xed position with respect to each other.

The fitting 462 has a downwardly extending neck 10 which fits into a exible air conduit or hose 1|. There are preferably two of these conduits 1|, one at each end of the tubular member 50, and they lead to a control means or valve 15 connected at the right side thereof as viewed in Fig. 1 to a source 16 of compressed air. The valve has an arm 11 which is in the path of an operator 18 clamped in adjusted position along the rod 22, and a spring 19 connected to the arm 11 tends normally to close the valve. The valve may be mounted on a stand secured as at 8| to the loom frame In the operation of the invention, the tubular member 50 will normally be in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, that is, the air outlets 60 will be adjacent to the forward ends of the slots I4, and the rod 22 will be to the left of the position shown in Fig. 1 so that valve 15 will be closed. On a tuft forming beat of the loom as already described the spacer plates will be moved rearwardly and the rear upper advancing parts of the spacer plates will move in slots I4 and disturb any lint in them. At this time the operator 18 will open the valve 15 so that air can be introduced from the source 16 into the tubular member to permit air to issue from the outlets 60 and be directed toward the slots |4 as the spacer plates and tubular members move rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. During this operation there will be movement of the spacer plates in the slots and any fiber particles or lint which are disturbed by the spacer plates can be readily blown out of the slots by the jets of air issuing from the outlets 60. It will be understood that at this time the reed is in rear position where it cannot interfere materially with removal of lint from the slots |4. When the spacer plates return to their normal forward position rod 22 will move forwardly and the operator 18 will permit spring 19 to close the valve 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple pneumatic means for cleaning lint from the slots of an Axminster loom nose board comprising essentially an elongated tubular member 55 extending under the nose board and having upwardly facing outlets 69 from which air under pressure is directed toward the slots I4. It will also be seen that the tubular member 5D is mounted so that it can move rearwardly or in a direction parallel to the slots l-'l during the time that air is issuing from the outlets 60 and the jets of air therefor have a sweep or travel which permits them effectively to reach all parts of the slots. In carrying out this feature of the invention the tubular member 50 has been mounted on the separator plates 49, but this particular mounting is not essential in all forms of the invention. It is desirable, however, to have the pneumatic cleaner so controlled that it can have a back and forth motion under the nose board during a part at least of the time that valve 15 is open. It Will also be seen that when the tubular member 50 is mounted on the spacer plates it forms with the latter and bar 36 a combined spacer plate and pneumatic cleaner unit designated generally at U, Fig. 8. Part 58 of the tubular member extends beyond the outline of the spacer plates so that the air outlets 60 can register with the spacer plates without having the latter interfere with the jets of air directed toward slots I4. Furthermore, the cam 20 which effects back and forth motion of the tubular member also controls opening and closing of valve l5.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications oi the foregoing specific disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an Axminster loom, a nose board having a body formed with rearwardly extending vertically disposed teeth separated by slots in which lint accumulates incident to loom operation, a tubular member extending under the nose board having air outlets facing toward the slots, a Source of compressed air, and control means to introduce air under pressure from said source into said tubular member to cause air escaping through said outlets to clean said lint from said slots.

2. In an Axminster loom, a nose board having a body formed with parallel tuft yarn engaging teeth spaced by slots, a pneumatic cleaner from which air under pressure is directed toward said slots, and mechanism controlled by the loom moving said pneumatic cleaner relatively to said slots in a direction parallel to said teeth.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said pneumatic cleaner comprises a tubular member under said nose board extending transversely of said teeth and provided with air outlets facing said slots.

1. In an Axminster loom, a nose board having a body formed with parallel tuft yarn engaging teeth spaced by slots, pneumatic means mounted under the nose board for movement parallel to said teeth and having air outlets facing said slots, mechanism giving said pneumatic means said movement thereof, and means to introduce compressed air into said pneumatic means to cause air under pressure to issue from said outlets to clean lint from said slots during said movement of said pneumatic means by said mechanism.

5. In an Axminster loom, a nose board having a body formed with tuft yarn engaging teeth spaced by slots, spacer plates moving in said slots and disturbing lint in said slots incident to loom operation, and pneumatic means under said nose board directing air under pressure into said slots whilesaid spacer plates are disturbing lint in said slots.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pneumatic means is mounted on said spacer plates.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pneumatic means comprises a tubular member mounted on said spacer plates and having air outlets facing said slots.

8. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said spacer plates have parts thereof rearward of said pneumatic means which move rearwardly 6 from said body in advance of said pneumatic means during part at least of said movement ci said spacer plates.

9. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pneumatic means includes a tubular member part of which projects beyond said spacer plates and is provided with air outlets facing said slots.

l0. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said pneumatic means includes a tubular member part of which projects beyond said spacer plates and is provided with air outlets facing said slots and registering with said spacer plates.

l1. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said teeth are parallel and said pneumatic means moves in a direction parallel to said teeth while the spacer plates are moving in said slots.

l2. In an AXminst-er loom having a nose board provided with vertically extending tuft yarn engaging teeth separated by slots, spacer plates extending into slots and mounted for movement in said slots, a pneumatic cleaner for said nose board under the nose board extending in a direction transverse of said teeth, a source of compressed air for the pneumatic cleaner, a cam rotating during loom operation effective to give said spacer plates said movement thereof, and control means between said cleaner and source operated by said cam and eiective to connect the source pneumatically with said cleaner when effecting movement of said spacer plates.

13. A combined spacer plate and pneumatic cleaner unit for an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with teeth spaced by slots, said unit comprising a bar, a plurality of spacer plates secured to the bar, and a tubular member supported on the spacer plates having air outlets opening away from but registered with said spacer plates.

14. A combined spacer plate and pneumatic cleaner unit for an axminster loom having a nose board provided "ith teeth spaced by slots, said unit comprising a bar, a plurality of spacer plates secured to the bar, and a tubular member parallel to and fixed with respect to said bar and havingI air outlets opening away from said spacer plates and registered therewith.

NORMAN FLETCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 288,268 Skinner et al Nov. 13, 1383 1,309,790 Walsh July 15, 1919 1,850,502 Hillier Mar. 22, 1932 2,400,792 Turner May 2l, 1946 2,527,054 Blanchard Oct. 24, 1950 

